Category: Obituaries

Thomas Lee Meek

Posted on by RumseyYost

A dinner to honor Thomas Lee Meek, 66, Lawrence, will be held at 2 pm Thursday, February 13, 2014, at the VFW in Lawrence.

Thomas died Monday, February 3, 2014, at Hickory Pointe Care Center in Oskaloosa, from a long battle with lung cancer.

He was born Sept. 20, 1947, in Springfield, Mo. to Robert and Dianna Meek.  He was an outstanding member of the VFW.

He was married to Debra West for 41 years.  Survivors include two daughters, Heather Meek, Baldwin City, and Jamie Conklin, Tonganoxie; five grandchildren, Kayla Dick, Tonganoxie, Bradley Dick, Topeka, Sharon Meek, Springfield, Mo.,  Samantha Boswell, Springfield, Mo., and Brianna Conklin, Tonganoxie; one great grandchild, Mareana Osborn, Baldwin City; a brother, Samuel Meek, California; two nieces and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Debra Meek, and a grandson, James Dick.

Melvin George McCall

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A memorial service for Melvin George McCall, 74, Lawrence, will be held at 1:00 pm, Monday, February 17, 2014, at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Graveside service with Military Honors will follow at Oak Hill cemetery.

Melvin died Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after fighting multiple myeloma for nearly nine years. Melvin was born June 9, 1939, the son of George and Fern Larson McCall. He graduated from Salina High School in 1957 and Kansas State University in 1961 with a degree in accounting.  He also served in the Air National Guard.

Melvin moved to Topeka where he started and ran an accounting and payroll business for many years.  He married Donnis June Klahr on May 22, 1964.  They had two children.  Donnis preceded him in death on February 17, 2013.

Survivors include his mother Fern, Salina, KS; one daughter, Kimberly Vitt and husband Joe, Eudora; one son, Brian McCall and wife Jenny, Lawrence; his brother, Larry McCall and wife Joyce, Bartlesville, OK; his sister, Marilyn Smith, Topeka; five grandchildren, Jordan and Katelyn Vitt, Amanda, Allison and Andrew McCall.

Melvin’s greatest joy came from doing for others which gave him a tremendous drive to live.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the medical staff at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for their years of care and support.

The family suggests memorials to the LMH Endowment – Oncology Center or Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, sent in care of the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Mary Ella Johnson

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Funeral services for Mary Ella Johnson, 87, Eudora, will be 1 pm,  Friday February 14, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Private burial will follow

Mrs. Johnson died Monday at Medicalodges Eudora.

She was born May 6, 1926, in Tyndall, SD, the daughter of Henry and Grace King Lubbers.  She graduated from TyndallHigh School in 1944.  Mary later went on to get her degree in Chemistry at HuronCollege in Huron, SD.  She then attended South DakotaState and was a Librarian Assistant. Mary taught at Brooking, SD, for one year and then in 1951 moved to Clinton, IA.  In 1958 she moved to Lawrence and taught at LawrenceHigh School and later taught math at CentralJunior High School.  She retired from teaching in 1985.

Mary‘s love for teaching extended to the First Baptist Church where she taught bible classes and served on the board.  She was also active in the Harmony Circle.  Mary was an avid gardener which was seen in her flower and vegetables gardens.  She was a sports fan and really enjoyed watching her sons in track and swimming.  Mary was a loving and proud grandmother and great grandmother.

Mrs. Johnson married Warren Lee Johnson on June 10, 1948 in Tyndall, South Dakota.  He preceded her in death on April 15, 1997.  She is also preceded in death by her daughter Cheryl D. Johnson on April 6, 1952.

Survivors include three sons, Gary and wife Maribel Johnson, Lawrence, Randall and wife Janet Johnson, Gering, NE, and Ronnie Johnson, Gering, NE; one brother Paul Lubbers, Indianapolis, IN; four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Friends may call from 8 am to 8 pm on Thursday.

The family suggests memorials to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, sent in care of the funeral home.

Eliza “Pearl” Hadl

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A Celebration of Life for Eliza “Pearl” Hadl, 96, Eudora, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory.  Inurnment will be at a later date at Lake Cemetery, in Lamar, Missouri.

Mrs. Hadl died Sunday, February 9, 2014, at Medicalodges Eudora.

She was born April 4, 1917, in Mindenmines, Missouri, the daughter of William Allen and Eliza Pearl Fuson Smoots.  She lived in Minnesota until she was 5, and then moved to the Lawrence area, then to Eudora in 1932, where she attended high school.

Mrs. Hadl was a homemaker, and worked at Independent Laundry as well as Lawrence Laundry.  She was a member of the Eudora Flower Club EHU, a founding member of the WW’s, and she was an avid scrap booker.

She married Paul Henry Hadl on August 14, 1935, in Eudora.  He died in 1994.

Survivors include a son Wilfred Hadl and wife Connie, of Lawrence; grandchildren, Darren Hadl, Cory Hadl, Monica Wells, Donald Scott Patz, Jerry Patz, and Tina Patz; great grandchildren, Amber Moses, Ashley Wells, Austin Patz, Ty Pearson, Sabrina Flanigan, Jolene Flanigan, Tasha Kinser, Jessie Rust, and Alexandria Rust; two great great grandchildren; and half sister, Vera Florence Lyons.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Velma Patz in 1978; and two half brothers, Vernon Allen and Roy Edward Smoots.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, where the family will receive friends after the service Saturday.

The family suggests memorials to TARC, a provider of support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sent in care of the funeral home.

Harold Richard (Hal) Piehler

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Harold Richard Piehler of Lawrence Kansas died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Feb. 8, 2014.  He was born September 28, 1927, on a farm near Sterling, Kansas. He was the son of Oscar and Bessie Piehler.

He attended Union 2 School near Sterling and Lyons Senior High School from which he graduated in 1945.

In 1950 he graduated from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He graduated with a BA from Southwestern College in Winfield Kansas in 1957, summa cum laude, and a Master of Arts degree from Wichita University in 1962. From the University of Kansas he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1975.

Harold taught English and history at Winfield High School from 1957 to 1970 and at Lawrence High School until his retirement in 1990.

He married Betty Matzke of Lawrence June 7, 1981. He leaves behind four children, Rachel Edney of Manaus, Virginia, David Piehler of Plano, Texas, Michelle Piehler and Christopher Piehler of Lawrence, Kansas and four grandchildren Matthew, Megan, Michael, and Mitchell of Plano, Texas

Besides his dissertation in 1957, he wrote numerous articles for newspapers, including Kansas History, Reminisce and The Good Old Days. Harold also wrote countless children’s short stories, including one full length novel.

He was an active member of the Oread Society of Friends, The Mankind Project, The Friends of the Library, The Kansas Authors Club, and the Brandon Woods writing class.

He traveled some in the United states but spent most of his life in his beloved hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.

Mary Ellen (Kinzie) Flory

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Mary Ellen (Kinzie) Flory, daughter of Elso & Alice (Blickenstaff) Kinzie, was born on September 26, 1921, in Pratt County, Kansas. Mother peacefully passed from this life into eternity on February 7th, 2014, at the age of 92 years, 4 months and 12 days. She confessed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized on October 11, 1940. From the day of her public confession until her death, she enjoyed the rich blessings of fellowship in the Old German Baptist Brethren Church.

On May 17, 1942 she was united in marriage to Harold Kenneth Flory, near Sawyer, Kansas. Together they worshipped, operated a dairy farm, traveled, raised four sons, and enjoyed 21 years of married life. On September 14th, 1963 her husband preceded her in death, after a tragic farm accident. Also preceding her in death were her parents; one son, Eldon; three brothers, Ray, Russell, and John; two sisters, Ethel Beeghley and Lois Flory; two brothers-in-law, John Beeghley and Wayne Flory; one infant granddaughter, and an infant great-granddaughter and great grandson.

She is survived by: Son Donald and wife Kathy; daughter-in-law Cheryl and husband Michael Flory; Son Ralph; Son Merle and wife Judith; eight grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law: Olive Kinzie and Anna Kinzie; as well as nephews, nieces, and friends.

The beauty of a little prairie girl’s heart, mixed with the reality of hard times, and the fleshing out of her faith in God, is what made up the life we will remember. Waking up a widow at 41 years old, cows to milk, crops to harvest, wood to chop and boys to raise she was heard to say, “we are not quitting, we are going right on” and she did by the Grace of God and the help of many neighbors, friends, and brethren far and near. She demonstrated a servant spirit with much hospitality, joyfulness, flexibility, availability, and endurance to the end.

The struggle to embrace her losses, make a living, raise a family, pass on the faith, and bless others, kept her heart tender and hands busy night and day. Mother spent her time with Dairy herd management, gardening and quilting.  Upon liquidating the dairy in 1983, she became a faithful vender at the Lawrence Farmers Market and was well known for her many varieties of delicious homemade breads.  These are a few of the precious memories she leaves with us.

Mother was a woman of faith and prayer, possessing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is of great price in the sight of God.  She often used three little words when disappointments came, “God knows Best.”

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, therefore our loss is her gain.

Funeral services will be 10 am Friday, February 14, 2014, at Willow Springs Old German Baptist Brethren Meeting House. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Grove, Kan.

Friends may call Thursday 9 am to 8 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home where the family will great friends from 5 to 7 pm.

Memorials may be made to Visiting Nurses, Hospice, Lawrence, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Verdie E. Wilkins

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Funeral services for Verdie E. Wilkins, 90, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Wednesday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Clinton Cemetery.  Mrs. Wilkins died Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Sept. 5, 1923, in Sullivan County, Missouri, the daughter of Joseph M. and Lena L. Dale Spencer.  She began working at Kirby’s in 1956, and worked there until 1966, when she began working at E&E Specialties.  In 1978, she began working for the University of Kansas, and worked there for ten years, earning the Employee of the Year award.  She retired in 1988.  She attended Life Tabernacle Church, and enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren and attending their activities.  She liked to crochet and embroider, and made all her children and grandchildren dish towels to remember her by.

She married George L. Wilkins on July 10, 1987, in Lawrence.  He preceded her in death, as did a daughter, Bonnie Harper, a son, Jimmy Spencer, two brothers, Leland and Basil Spencer, two sisters, Lillian Cotter and Mildred Coon, and a granddaughter, Ann Shouse.   Survivors include her children, Dorothy Parsons (Dale), Golden, Colo., Nancy Kochanowski (Tony), Lawrence, and Vickie Baldwin (Robert), Ottawa; a sister, Anna Hoskins, Kentucky; ten grandchildren, Debbie Brown (Brad), Dallas Merritt, Deanna Cassella, Christy Moore (Sean), Steven Parsons (Stacy), Jeffrey Parsons, Pamela Daly (Pete), and Adam, Faith, and Paul Darnell; nine great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.

Friends may call from noon until 8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 5-6 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to Grace Hospice, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Robbie Adelaide Neelley

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Robbie Adelaide Neelley, Lawrence, died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on February 3, 2014.

She was born on December 9, 1923, in Sweetwater, Texas. Parents were J. Archibald and Clara Roach. Robbie married James Neelley in 1943. Robbie and family moved to Lawrence in 1959.

There will be no public funeral service. It was her request that all her family gather for a memorial reunion and her entombment at some time after her cremation.

Survivors are daughter Elizabeth Leesti and husband Peter of Toronto, Canada; son Kevin and wife Iris of Lenexa, Kansas; son Malcolm of Lawrence; grandson Bertram Leesti, of Toronto, Canada; sister-in-law Nessye Mae, widow of Robbie’s brother J. Archibald Roach, Jr., of Alpine, Texas; brother William Roach and wife Joyce of College Station, Texas; and sister-in-law Mildred Roach, widow of Robbie’s brother Jack Roach, of Alpine, Texas.

Robbie donated her body to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

LuDell Johnson

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A graveside service for LuDell Johnson, 89, Lawrence, will be 2 pm Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at OakHillCemetery.

Mrs. Johnson was born February 8, 1924 in Jasper, Texas to Frederick and Edna Horn.

She died January 24, 2014 at Medicalodges in Eudora, Kansas.

She married Frederick Lynn Johnson on June 3, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas. He died October 15, 1999.

LuDell is survived by son James “Jim” Johnson; sister Ruby Potter and husband Richard; brother Frederick “Red” Horn, Jr.; grandchildren Linette Reves and husband Bruce, and Roger Johnson and wife Jenny; great-grandchildren Jessica Gurney and husband Josh, Erik Hatfield and wife Allie, Jenna Hatfield, and Taylor Hatfield; two step great grandchildren, Dylan Dean and Riley Dean; and great-great-grandchildren Amelia Gurney, Myra Gurney, Adrianna Martinez, and Michael Martinez, Jr.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Raymond “Lynn” Johnson, brothers William Henry Horn and Edward Nash Horn, and sister Helen Ray.

Friends may call from 8 am to 8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home. 

The family suggests memorial contributions made to the Medicalodges of Eudora, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260Lawrence, KS66044